APN's daily news review from Israel

Sunday February 18, 2018
 

Quote of the day:

Haaretz

Yedioth Ahronoth

Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)

Israel Hayom

News Summary:
A flare-up on the Israel-Gaza Strip border with casualties, a fury in Israel after the Polish Prime Minister said there were both Polish and Jewish criminals in the Holocaust, and the transfer of Case 3000 from the Israel Securities Authority to the Police to bring criminal charges against associates of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for receiving benefits in return for enabling favorable media coverage of him on the Walla news website made top stories in today’s Hebrew newspapers.

The tit-for-tat flared up again between the Gaza Strip and Israel after four Israeli soldiers were wounded by a road mine near the border fence on Saturday afternoon. The papers were vague about the location of the explosive device, writing that “The explosive device was affixed to a Palestinian flag and appeared to have been placed near the fence under the cover of Friday's demonstrations nearby.” Only half way through its article did Ynet quote the IDF saying, “The device, which included a pipe and was part of a flag, was placed on the Palestinian side of the fence.” And while the IDF assessment was that "The device belonged to rogue organizations and not Islamic Jihad,” it attacked six Hamas targets because it sees Hamas as responsible. Then Saturday night, an Israeli home in the south was damaged after a rocket fired from Gaza hit it, but did not detonate. Late last night, Israel bombed 12 more Hamas targets. (UPDATE: This morning, Gazans found the bodies of two Gazan teens who were killed yesterday by Israeli fire after approaching the border. Haaretz has a timeline of how Saturday's events unfolded.)

At the Munich Conference, where Netanyahu was in attendance, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki upset some Israelis in an answer to a question from a Yedioth journalist regarding the controversial Holocaust law, which criminalizes saying that Poland and the Polish people were complicit in the Holocaust.  Morawiecki reiterated that the Holocaust had Polish perpetrators, just as it had Jewish ones. Netanyahu called the remarks 'outrageous.’ A number of Israeli commentators called for Israel to withdraw its ambassador to Poland. (See Commentary/Analysis below.) Nevertheless, Haaretz’s Noa Landau reported that, meanwhile, Netanyahu met with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the first meeting since Kurz formed a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which has Nazi roots and which Israel is boycotting. Just last Thursday, the head of Austria's Jewish community, Oskar Deutsch, accused the FPO of being ‘not credible' that it stamped out anti-Semitism from its ranks. A report showed that cases of hostility towards Jews was on the rise nationally. "What we observe is a reduction in inhibitions," he said. Polish Jews are also stunned and scared by the eruption of anti-Semitism in their country in the wake of the Polish Holocaust law and more are inquiring about immigration to Israel. Just last Thursday, Poland froze the Holocaust survivors' property restitution bill. That said, it appears that Israel won’t be cutting ties with Poland, as the Polish Parliament representative will be attending a parliaments convention being held in Israel this week, despite objections of some Israel Foreign Ministry officials, Maariv reported. The Knesset said that this week's conference is professional and has no political elements.

Meanwhile, the papers reported a ‘dramatic development’ in corruption Case 4000, which probes Netanyahu’s ties to Shmuel Elovitch, the owner of Bezeq Telecom and Walla website: on Friday the Israel Securities Authority passed the case to the police to open a criminal investigation. (UPDATE: Police arrested a number of still unnamed people this morning in connection with the case, including two Netanyahu confidantes.) Just last week, a former editor of the Walla news outlet admitted he was pressured to give Netanyahu favorable coverage. In the first of the weekly protests against Netanyahu and government corruption to took place following the publication of police recommendations to indict Netanyahu for bribery, more than two thousand people participated. Former police chief Assaf Hefetz attended to provide support for embattled Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh and his struggle against a ‘swamp of corruption.' Speaking on the "Meet the Press" TV program Saturday night, former State Prosecutor Moshe Lador said Netanyahu needed to step down, Maariv reported. "You cannot dance at both weddings,” he said adding, "It is fitting that his (coalition) partners call on him to resign from his position.” Yedioth provided a fact-checking with Netanyahu's recent claims about Cases 1000 and 2000, in which police recommended indicting him.

Quick Hits:

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Features:
The untold story of the Jews who left Mandatory Palestine
In the three decades before Israel’s establishment, some 60,000 Jews left the country for financial or ideological reasons. A new book reveals a dark corner of Zionist history, including the forced expulsion of ‘burdensome’ Jewish immigrants. (Nir Hasson, Haaretz+)
Five Jews, 12 synagogues
Far from the limelight, work is underway to renovate Jewish institutions in Cairo. At the end of the mission, a library of scriptures and a memorial museum for the Jewish community will also be established there. All with the approval of the authorities. (Jacky Hugy, Maariv)
In Bed With Israel's First Prime Minister: Historian Exposes David Ben-Gurion as You Never Knew Him
He had four mistresses, suggested converting Arabs to Judaism, was prepared to give up Israel's nuclear project and consulted a fortune teller. Historian Tom Segev gets up close and personal with David Ben-Gurion, the man behind the myth. (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+)
Ancient beard traditions shape the face of modern Jerusalem
Although facial hair is trendy these days, for men of all faiths in the holy city, beards have never gone out of style, projecting religious mysticism, nationalism and ideals of masculinity. For some, beards are a channel of divinity, says scholar. (Associated Press, Israel Hayom)
Istanbul Salutes a Great Jewish-American Architect
Pera Museum shows images of the works of Louis Kahn, who dreamed of redesigning Jerusalem’s Old City. (Benny Ziffer in Istanbul, Haaretz+)
The Darfuri asylum seeker in Israel who takes refuge in writing
Adam Ahmed fled the massacre in Sudan in 2004 and survived a bloodbath in Egypt, yet is afraid to walk the streets of Tel Aviv. His memoir takes readers on an insightful journey into life in exile. (Vered Lee, Haaretz+)

Commentary/Analysis:
Don’t Threaten Me (MK Stav Shaffir, Haaretz+) Haaretz columnist Yossi Verter went out of his way to portray me as a bully who intimidates the delicate, vulnerable coalition members. This is my answer to the Zohars and the Verters.
David Grossman’s Israel Prize win inspires hope (Nahum Barnea, Yedioth/Ynet) It’s nice to see the State of Israel awarding one of the government's biggest critics with its most important prize; listening to him from time to time wouldn’t do any harm either.
Police recommendations regarding Netanyahu: An entire country is up in storm because of a meaningless document - Also, on David Grossman's self-goal (Kalman Libeskind, Maariv) What the police did to the attorney general was a transparent trick and a kind of extortion by threats. Also, David Grossman's glorious self-goal, in his understanding that he was the Israel Prize laureate for his political positions. For years, Grossman has struggled to accept the decision of the Israeli public. Those who think otherwise are usually fascists, racists, fanatics and fundamentalists. "I feel recognition and support both in my books and in my opinions," he said following the announcement of his winning. He is right about the books and wrong about the opinions. He was not the only one who mistakenly understood the decision to award him a prize. There were many more. One of them, Yonit Levy, explained to her audience that "the significance of his winning is not only literary, but also political." This approach, it should be said, is inextricably linked to that of (Culture) Minister Miri Regev. For if the winning by an artist or a writer is recognition of his talent and abilities, and that's it, then his political views really have no meaning. Let him be a Jew or an Arab, right-wing or leftist, a socialist or a communist. But if winning is a recognition of the winner's political views, then the culture minister is right that before giving a prize, it is worth checking out who the man is and what he thinks and what he supports and what he opposes. Anyone who fears the continued fragmentation of Israeli society into groups and classes should understand that this approach is nothing more than a glorious self-goal.
Help Israel. Stop giving it money (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz+) The Diaspora funded Israel’s birth and survival. But Jewish money is now corrupting the Jewish state.
Netanyahu Has Lies, but Not a Policy (Haaretz Editorial) An honest leader would admit that he’s against annexation and help Israelis give up impossible and immoral dreams of sovereignty over the West Bank.
When Trump officially called Netanyahu a liar (Orly Azoulay, Yedioth/Ynet) The White House wasn’t just angered by the prime minister's lie that he was holding talks with the Americans about applying Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank, but also by the liberty he took to get the US administration in trouble with the world.
Israel’s Right Wing Has Never Told the Truth (Gideon Levy, Haaretz+) Jerusalem is united, there's no occupation, the settlements are legal – all lies. That’s why the right finds nothing wrong with Netanyahu.
Netanyahu Has a New Scapegoat for His Corruption Scandal (Yossi Verter, Haaretz+) The Israeli prime minister, who's still standing after the police recommended charging him with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, has a new target in his sights.
Will Netanyahu Surrender to the Annexation Camp? (Avi Gil, Haaretz+) The far-right that favors annexing the West Bank to Israel without given Palestinians there equal rights are now increasing pressure on Netanyahu, trying to exploit his weakness as he is absorbed in the legal-political fight of his life.
When it's all over, we'll have to ask ourselves - how did we let this family ruin everything that was good (Ben Caspit, Maariv) The strength of the evidence in Case 1000 is clear, and the case of the 2000 case is far more serious than it seems. Soon a few submarines will also be added. And how is it that even now there is not even one minister who will say, “That’s enough, Mr. Prime Minister.”
Arnon Mozes Must Relinquish His Post (Friday Haaretz Editorial) Yedioth Ahronoth publisher and managing editor's attempt to trade in journalistic coverage and distort it for ulterior motives leaves him no choice.
Netanyahu's true nightmare isn't criminal indictment but the Israeli public's contempt (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) In his sweet dream, Netanyahu continues to ward off the agents of the law, but now he’s backed by a renewed mandate from the people.
What kind of government drags us time and again to the brink of war? (Ran Adelist, Maariv) Around the cabinet table gathered corrupt, messianists, blackmailers and one evasive man, and in their hands is the authority to kill and be killed. If our faces are towards peace, why are all the borders burning?
The Israeli Police’s Finest Hour (Israel Harel, Haaretz+) Netanyahu and his supporters have accused the heads of the police of trying to bring down the right-wing government. That’s nonsense.
A Netanyahu indictment won't save Israeli democracy (Dahlia Scheindlin, +972mag) In Netanyahu’s Israel, checks and balances are irrelevant or corrupt, accountability is conspiracy, and a watchdog media is a national saboteur. Tough times are ahead.
Mueller Indictments and Israeli Police Set Up Trump-Netanyahu Goodfellas Summit (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) When powerful and narcissistic leaders face similar troubles, each is convinced his pickle is bigger.
Conference of Shelter: In Munich no one knows who Milchan and Mozes are (Shlomo Shamir, Maariv) The bottom line is that the Munich Security Conference will not yield a significant political achievement or even a declarative political gain for the prime minister. Netanyahu will warn, as usual, against the nuclear agreement with Iran and will make it clear that "Israel will not accept the growing presence of Iran in Syria." He will enjoy talking about Iran this time because Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif is participating in the conference and for Netanyahu it would be nice to "give it to him." But the main issue that will be discussed at the conference as a threat and a threat to peace and stability in the world will not be the nuclear agreement with Iran. Not at all. What has recently become a real threat to the security is the war in Syria, which seems to have no end, which is why the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia also arrived in Munich.
Gaza border explosion: The other side may have found Israel's blind spot, and the army must adjust (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) If Hamas doesn't come to its senses and put out the fire, the danger of war will loom once again
The new rules of the game (Yoav Limor, Israel Hayom) Despite the success of intercepting the Iranian drone incursion into Israel last weekend, it seems the Israeli Air Force is not as invincible as we have come to believe. The end of the latest border skirmish may signal the beginning of the next clash.
It’s Not an F-16, It’s God (Rogel Alpher, Haaretz+) For Israeli Jews, air force jets are divine; the air supremacy they are supposed to afford makes them omnipotent.
The escalation in the south: The defense establishment understands that there is a need for a move that will “break the tie” (Yossi Melman, Maariv) Suggestions are plentiful, but the cabinet, due to ego struggles, political arguments and indifference or opacity, lingers and thinks that whatever was was. There, they do not believe that any small incident could cause a huge explosion, which will get out of control.
Iran and the Assad regime are drawing a line in Syria’s skies (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) Last Saturday’s events, when an Israeli fighter jet was shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft missiles, show that the price of air freedom in the north has just gone up – while Israeli tensions with the United States over ‘annexation talks’ only increases the challenge.
Looking back at Eisenkot’s three years as IDF chief (Ron Ben Yishai, Ynet) It is still too early to assess Eisenkot’s performance as IDF Chief of Staff; the real test is how well the army he leads performs on the battlefield; However, it can still be said that Eisenkot is an exceptional military leader owing to the impressive amount of objectives, which he set for himself at the start of his term, which were fulfilled.
Abu Dis-information (Nadav Shragai, Israel Hayom) The Palestinians call the offer of an alternative capital in the village of Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem, the "slap of the century," conveniently overlooking the fact that they rejected much more generous offers made by previous Israeli governments.
How Israel Can Shrink the Occupation, Without Shrinking Its Security (Micah Goodman, Haaretz+) To escape the trap that Israelis are caught in with the Palestinians, both the right and left have to let go of their dreams, writes 'Catch-67' author Micah Goodman.
Sometimes, just sometimes, the Palestinians are right (Ben-Dror Yemini, Yedioth/Ynet) We can keep talking about Palestinian rejectionism, anti-Semitic propaganda and support for terror, but the images produced by 16-year-old Ahed Tamimi and 11-year-old Janna Jihad—and the images dispatched to the world from Hebron’s Shuhada Street—are much stronger.
Why peace can't be processed now (Clifford D. May, Israel Hayom) Given recent events, we can be sure we will not be seeing any Palestinian leader shaking hands with an Israeli leader on the White House lawn in the foreseeable future.
Congress Is Helping the U.S. Fray Its Ties With the Palestinian Authority (Aaron Magid, Haaretz+) It appears the vast majority of congress members are determined to widen the power disparity between Israelis and Palestinians in almost every way possible.
Abbas' double game (Michael Oren, Israel Hayom) In his quest to become the sole ruler of the Palestinian people once again, PA President Mahmoud Abbas is hoping to manipulate Israel into doing his dirty work against Hamas, and even better if Israel pays the price of being accused of war crimes.
Our debt to the millions who were slaughtered: Expel the Polish ambassador from Tel Aviv immediately (Ben Caspit, Maariv) There is nothing more to consult about. The government must return the Israeli ambassador from Warsaw permanently, or until the Poles internalize the meaning of their actions and statements about us.
The Polish PM Wants to Please Voters, and 'Jewish Perpetrators' in the Holocaust Are His Populist Diversion (Ofer Aderet, Haaretz+)
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's effort to compare Jews to Poles in this context is an outrageous, anti-historical distortion.
 

Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.